The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Milan 4-0 after three more big wins
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2007
Of all the adjectives in the world that can be used to describe a soccer team, no coach will find objection with "undefeated" and "ranked."
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The Milan girls' varsity soccer team is 4-0 and this week, for the first time in the program's history, was ranked in the top 10 in Division 3, according to the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Though pleased for his players, coach Phil Zuber chooses to downplay the No. 9 ranking.
"A ranking is a ranking," he said. "They don't give you an extra goal to start a game. If nothing else, you now have a target on your back."
He prefers to characterize the ranking as an indicator of potential, not accomplishment.
"It just means the expectation is there for us to perform that well," he said. "It doesn't mean we have played that well."
But it also doesn't mean the Big Reds haven't played that well.
Maybe they have.
In their first four games of the year, Milan has recorded three shutouts and allowed only two goals.
They have outshot their opponents 54-19.
And they have recorded their first wins ever against Tecumseh and Riverview.
The key to the team's success so far, said Zuber, is the team's defense and its depth.
"The defense has been playing outstanding and in every game, we've had multiple scorers," Zuber said. "I think that's what's going to make us a tough team to beat. Each one (of our players) poses their own unique threat."
In their 4-2 win over Riverview, the Big Reds scored early, taking a 4-0 lead late into the second half. Kaitlen Eisen got Milan on the scoreboard off an assist from Sarah Towler. Building on the lead with goals of their own were Stephanie Sell, Meredith Rizor and Towler, who scored on a penalty kick. Jessica Young had two assists.
Milan followed the win up with a 5-0 trouncing of Airport, outshooting the Jets 26-0.
Towler opened the scoring onslaught with a goal off an assist from Stephanie Sell, who went on to score twice herself. Freshman Tiffany Stacy recorded her first varsity goal unassisted and followed it up with her second goal off an assist from Towler.
Stacy started the season on the junior varsity squad, but was called up to varsity soon after she scored five goals in the JV team's first game.
"Considering (Stacy) is playing behind two of the most prolific players in the school's history," said Zuber, referring to Young and Rizor, "she's been very productive for us."
Stacy came up with her third goal in the waning seconds of a hallmark 2-0 win Monday against Tecumseh.
Young, who leads the team with five assists, put Milan up with a goal early in the first period, and it would prove to be all the Big Reds needed.
"I think we surprised them with how quickly we came out of the gate," said Zuber, "and our defense frustrated them the whole game. The key ingredient to our win was the depth of our bench."
The undefeated and state-ranked Big Reds will face St. Mary Catholic Central at home before taking on Clinton at home Friday. They travel to New Boston on Monday and Grosse Ile on Wednesday.
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